United States Vice President Kamala Harris is set to hold bilateral talks with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte as she visits the Philippines on Sunday, November 20.
But before VP Harris meets with the country's leaders, it is well for Filipinos to get to know her better.
Harris is the current US Vice President and was elected in 2020 with US President Joseph Biden.
The US Constitution names the vice president of the United States as the president of the Senate. In addition to serving as presiding officer of the Senate, the vice president has the sole power to break a tie vote
in the Senate and formally presides over the receiving and counting of electoral ballots cast in presidential elections.
According to the White House, Harris is "key" in engaging world leaders and strengthening US alliances and partnerships.
She led the Biden Administration's efforts to protect the freedom to vote, expand workers' rights, and stand up for women's rights.
"In everything she does, she remains focused on the people of our nation—and our collective future," it said.
According to the White House website, Harris worked "a lifetime of public service," having been elected District Attorney of San Francisco, California Attorney General, and United States Senator.
Harris was born in Oakland, California to activist parents who emigrated from India and Jamaica. She graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of Law.
Her parents brought her to civil rights demonstrations and introduced "role models" who would motivate her to become a prosecutor.
In 1990, Harris joined the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, where she specialized in prosecuting child sexual assault cases.
She was elected District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003. During this time, Harris started a program that provided first-time drug offenders with the opportunity to earn a high school degree and find employment.
Harris became a senator in 2017. As a senator, she pushed for legislation that would address hunger, rent relief, maternal health care, and climate change.